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Canadians and the world have turned their attention to Canada's nuclear research program. The necessary shutdown of the Chalk River reactor has caused an international shortage of medical isotopes, giving rise to dire issues for patients needing isotope-based medical interventions, and the threat of lasting damage to Canada's reputation.

The appointment of an expert panel by Natural Resources Minister Lisa Raitt to seek a sustained supply of medical isotopes is an important step. The Canadian Association of Physicists has considerable expertise in this area and would be happy to assist the panel. We would urge taking a long-term and focused view that takes into account the full range of Canada's growing role in nuclear science and engineering.

We need a candid and informed assessment as to what is best for Canada. Several options are worth considering.

McMaster University has offered to produce medical isotopes in the short term until a longer term solution can be found. The Canadian Institute for Neutron Scattering has proposed a Canadian Neutron Centre to be constructed for medical and research purposes, and the premier of Saskatchewan has stated interest in having such a facility.

TRIUMF, if fully funded for its next five-year cycle, may make feasible the production of medical isotopes with accelerators, transferable to the private sector.

Canada needs cutting edge, high technology solutions that provide the range of isotopes needed, along with a workforce trained in the basic and applied sciences. The health of our citizens and our country's prosperity depend on it.

ROBERT MANN

President, Canadian Association of Physicists

Mayor needs a reality check

Is there anyone but me in this city (hopefully at least 6,500) who has had enough of the "Court Circus" that our mayor creates for our city and himself? I'm tired of his arrogant attitude.

He can't handle criticism. He only fires back at the people who offer it to him as a way of improving the city. Saint John is ages behind the times and needs to move forward. With Court at the helm, it doesn't look good. Time for him to take a reality check.

He is the mayor of a major city that, for the first time in years, can maybe compare to Moncton in growth and prosperity. The unprofessional attitude he portrays will only slow things down.

If there is a piece of legislation that does exist, I for one am all for the removal of Court from office and let there be another election. He may have won on election day, which was a poor turnout, but he won't be so lucky next time with his poor performance with the media and the way he handles himself. Time to grow up Mr. Court and if the legislation does exist somewhere where you can be removed from office, so be it. Maybe if you handled yourself as an elected official should, people wouldn't be looking to remove you.

SCOTT WADDELL

Saint John

Domestic violence not limited to guns

I'm a female target shooter and firearms enthusiast. I also happen to have been a victim of spousal abuse. So I think I'm more than qualified to state that Darcy Brooks has woefully missed the mark with her comments. ("How much is too much to spend on safety," June 25).

Domestic violence has absolutely nothing to do with firearms laws. Taking away an abuser's tool will do nothing to stop the abuse. They'll simply find a different tool, and the abuse will continue. A woman killed with a baseball bat is no less dead than a woman killed with a gun.

It's time to stop targeting law-abiding citizens, and put that waste of money and resources towards something useful. Maybe something like support for victims of domestic violence and treatment for their abusers.

JENNIFER DADSON

Vancouver, B.C.

Herbicide ban based on science

Re: "Pesticide lawsuit may not hit here" (June 25). The province's good decision to ban the herbicide 2,4-D is based on a great deal of science. For example, the scientific journal Paediatrics & Child Health published peer-reviewed research in April 2006 which concluded 2,4-D "can be persuasively linked to cancers, neurological impairment and reproductive problems." In fact, the science is such that New Brunswick should extend its law and prohibit all pesticides whose only purpose is cosmetic. That is certainly the position of science-based authorities such as the Canadian Cancer Society, the Nurses Association of New Brunswick, and the New Brunswick Lung Association.

GIDEON FORMAN

Executive Director Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment

More work needed on pay equity

If the government was sincere about pay equity it would behave differently. It would ensure that people who work in non-government jobs were paid as much and had the same benefits and job protection as our overpaid and underworked civil servants in all levels of government.

Home care and nursing home workers would be paid closer to nurses and not nearly minimum wage. Mechanics and plumbers and carpenters would be able to afford to retire at 55 like many teachers do, and we would all have job security.

We have extra property taxes on apartments to pay for these grandiose plans. For a government that is running a near billion-dollar deficit in a province where nearly one in three work for some level of government, reducing costs would seem to be the prudent course of action. The sad truth is that politicians seldom care about taxpayers' money regardless if they are town councillors or MPs.

TOM HICKIE

Fredericton

Town's main street is embarrassing

I am writing to applaud the letter of June 25 about the roads in St. Stephen. I visited some friends in New River Beach on June 12 and was absolutely appalled at the condition of the main street of St. Stephen.

Driving on that street with 24-inch potholes was akin to being on a bad carnival ride at a second-rate fair. As we proceeded along my wife and I were laughing out loud, literally, that the street could be legally open in such a poor condition.

We met a local vehicle travelling in the other direction and they were laughing too. The only other alternative for him was to cry.

There must be a tremendous liability that the town is taking to allow vehicular traffic on that road in its state of repair. I have been a police officer for 23 years and would have most certainly shut that roadway down and not allowed anyone to travel on it.

I hope that St. Stephen's emergency services never have to use that street in a time-critical fashion. Someone's life may be at stake. Where are the engineers, town managers and project supervisors? As the letter said, the "tourists" from the U.S. did notice. Detours maybe?

TED CANTWELL

Fairfax Vt., U.S.A.

Don't blame arsenic levels on industry

I've watched the emotional issue about arsenic with some amusement over the last few months - waiting for someone to wake up and become informed.

It's déja vu.

The same concerns over arsenic were raised for northern New Brunswick communities decades ago by a medical doctor. He, like too many other medics who step outside of their training and expertise, as well as the Conservation Council today, went off on a tangent. Significantly elevated arsenic levels can be readily and commonly seen in anyone who eats shellfish, especially shrimps, on a regular basis.

Therein lies the basis for this emotional blitzkrieg. Blame it on yourself! Stop hunting for some industry to blame it on. There are very few places in this province where arsenic is slightly elevated in the groundwater and those are natural and well known.

JOHN K. SUTHERLAND

Fredericton

Property tax jump was shocking

My father died in 2000 and I inherited 1.1 acre of land with an old house included. I managed to look after myself on $558 per month for almost four years. I kept on paying my property tax, even after I could no longer live in my falling-down house, and until this year I had to pay about $50.

I was so shocked when the young woman at Service New Brunswick told me how much I had to pay, that I cannot even remember the dollar figure, except that it was a lot more than I could pay. Who is this government, the anti-Robin Hood?

It's just an old house by the marsh and if my tax bill was reasonable, I would pay it.

DAN GILLCRIST

Moncton